Materials handling equipment for the compounding plant

摘要

In these current difficult times, process efficiency and consequently productivity is as vital in the plastics compounding plant as it is in any other manufacturing environment. Advances in materials handling techniques can play a big part in the compounding operation. Jennifer Markarian explains.rnProductivity - more output with less input - continues to be a hot topic in manufacturing. In materials handling, productivity improvements can be found in using larger material containers and more automation. For example, a compounder receiving 50 lb (23 kg) bags and unloading them manually can gain productivity using an intermediate bulk storage system with vacuum transfer, notes Nick Hayes, president at vacuum conveyor supplier Volkmann, Inc. Larger compounding shops are typically already automated, but may still find efficiency improvements in new technology.